Pipeline Safety

This brochure has been prepared by the Drumright Gas Authority to educate individuals on how to prevent and handle emergencies involving natural gas pipelines.

Drumright Gas Authority is a small municipal natural gas distributor located in the central part of Oklahoma. Drumright operates 62 miles of poly main and has approximately 1,200 active meters. Drumright purchases Natural Gas from Seminole Energy through the Southern Star Gas Pipeline and takes delivery at a station located on the northeast corner of town.

Most pipeline emergencies are first detected by the public. If you detect a situation you believe to be an emergency, IMMEDIATELY CALL 918-352-2251 AND REPORT IT. This is a 24 hour emergency telephone number.

WHAT IS A PIPELINE EMERGENCY

A gas pipeline emergency is a condition that endangers the safe operation of a gas pipeline. Specific examples are: (1) a leak or ruptured pipeline; (2) a weakened or damaged pipeline; (3) gas detected inside or near a building or public area; (4) a fire or an explosion near or directly involving a pipeline or pipeline facility; or (5) loss of delivery to customers.

HOW ESCAPING GAS MAY ACT IN AN EMERGENCY

Natural Gas is a non-polluting fuel contained, under pressure, in underground pipelines. However, if the pipeline facilities become damaged and gas escapes, you should be aware of: (1) natural gas is colorless and odorless. An odorant has been added to give it a distinctive smell. (2) natural gas is lighter than air and will rise and diffuse rapidly.

REPORTING A PIPELINE EMERGENCY

If, for any reason, you should be in the immediate area of a broken or leaking pipeline, abandon all equipment and leave the area quickly and warn others. If you suspect it to be our pipeline please notify us immediately. DO NOT smoke, start vehicles or other equipment or create any other ignition source. Natural Gas will burn if it escapes the pipeline, mixes with air and is ignited. Escaping gas can be ignited by open flame or sparks from electrical switches, motors, equipment or flying rocks. Gas leaks may be detected by observing unexplained dead vegetation, a hissing sound blowing dirt or by a distinctive smell.

GAS DETECTED INSIDE A BUILDING

Gas detected inside or near a building is an extremely dangerous situation. If you detect the smell of Natural Gas inside a building, leave the building and notify Drumright Gas Authority immediately. Do not operate light switches or other instruments or equipment that may cause a spark. Do not call from your telephone, use a neighbors telephone or go directly to City Hall. Our emergency telephone number is 918-352-2251.

SITUATIONS THAT MAY CAUSE PIPELINE EMERGENCIES ARE:

(1) Acts of nature such as tornadoes, earthquakes, floods and soil erosion.
(2) Excavation or blasting adjacent to a pipeline or pipeline facility.

HOW TO PREVENT A GAS PIPELINE EMERGENCY

Pipelines can be damaged from excavation, blasting, drilling, land movement, heavy surface loads, fire or other circumstances. When you plan to dig or blast near our pipeline, please call our office and tell us your location and route. Markers have been placed at road and railroad crossings to mark the presence of our pipelines. Our 24 hour telephone number is on each sign.

TO HELP PREVENT A GAS PIPELINE EMERGENCY

If you are unsure about pipelines in your area, contact “Call Okie” at 1-800-522-6543 or 811 forty-eight (48) hours before you dig. Please contact the Drumright Gas Authority office and tell us your location.

HOW OFFICIALS SHOULD HANDLE A GAS PIPELINE EMERGENCY

Fire, police and other public officials responding to a pipeline emergency will do whatever is necessary to protect the public. Such action will include clearing the area of people, then barricading the area and standing by at a safe distance. If the gas has not ignited, precautions should be taken to prevent ignition, such as prohibiting smoking and rerouting traffic. If the gas is burning, prevent the spread of fire but do not attempt to extinguish the burning gas. Do not operate or attempt to operate valves on our pipeline system.

HOW OUR CUSTOMERS CAN HELP

Customers will be informed when a pipeline emergency might affect our gas delivery to them. Should this happen, the Drumright Gas Authority may request customers to reduce their demand or take other measures to reduce the emergency’s effect.

Emergency action will begin the moment we become aware of an Abnormal Operating Condition on our pipeline. Drumright Gas Authority operating personnel will be dispatched to identify the emergency condition, control the flow of gas and to make repairs as necessary. As this emergency is taking place, gas employees will communicate with the fire, police and other public officials.